Flat crossbar switch mechanism



Sept. 8, 1953 J.) KRUITHOF 27,651,682

FLAT CROSSBAR SWITCH MECHANISM Filed May 5, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @J ea k 9 o O 0 0 0 9 9 o X77777 0 '9 oo 9 on im 00 m INVENTOR /AKOB KRU/ THOF ATTORNEY Sept. 8, 1953 J. KRUITHOF 2,651,682 FLAT CROSSBAR SWITCH MECHANISM Filed May 5, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR dA/(OB KRU/THOF ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 1953 FLAT CROSSBAR SWITCH MECHANISM Jakob Kruithof, Antwerp, Belgium, assignor to International Standard Electric Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 5, 1949, Serial No. 91,611 In the Netherlands May 18, 1948 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric multiswitch. More particularly, it deals with a switch wherein any one or more of a number of conductors of one group or kind may each be selectively contacted with any One of one or more corresponding conductors of another group or kind. It is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application S. N. 14,215, filed March 11, 1948.

The basic switch structure of the present invention is described and claimed in more detail in the co-pending application referred to immediately above, and consists generally of an electric multi-switch comprising a network of two types or kinds of conductive element disposed in closely spaced parallel surfaces or planes, in such manner that each of the conductive elements in one of the planes will cross each conductive element in the other plane; such as, for example, one plane of a series of horizontal conductors spaced a given distance from another parallel plane of a series of vertical conductors, to form a type of mesh or lattice. At least one kind of such conductors must be sufiiciently deformable or flexible so that a control member may cause movement of the deformable conductive element in any one plane into a good electrical contact with one of the conductors in the other plane. Preferably, a number of pairs of parallel surfaces of conductors are provided and operated through common control members, the spaced crossing points of the conductors in each pair of surfaces being, in such case in alignment.

The present invention relates particularly to the utilization of the above described multiswitch structure by control and selection devices of the general type found in so called crossbar switches, although this description is to be deemed explanatory and not as limiting.

It is therefore, a general object of this invention to provide a new efiicient and more compact mUlti-switch than heretofore has been available.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel cross-bar type multi-switch adapted for use, for example, as a selector, line finder, register, translator etc. in automatic telephone circults.

These above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred improvement of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a preferred form of a multi-switch in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, in part broken away and partially in section, of the same multi-switch;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the switch shown in Figs. 1 and 2, shown in part with the end plate removed, and partially in section; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing in more detail one of the elements of the switch structure.

As will be clearly seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the switch according to the present invention is preferably built up about a supporting frame structure consisting of a base plate l, top 2, side walls 3 and 4, and back plate 5. In order to avoid insulating problems the plates forming the framework are preferably made of insulating material, although obviously other material may be used and the insulating problems solved in ways which will be obvious to those skilled in this art.

The above mentioned framework supports a series of horizontal conductors 8, there preferably being a plurality of such conductors extending between and supported by the side wallsZ-l and 4 in a series of horizontal planes. There are also a plurality of vertical conductors l disposed in parallel vertical planes intersecting the aforementioned horizontal planes and disposed between adjacent horizontal conductors. These vertical conductors may be mounted between the base plate l and the top 2 of the switch structure. The horizontal conductors 6 are preferably made in the form of a tightly coiled flexible spring for a purpose which will become more apparent hereafter, and may be held in place through openings in the side Walls 3 and t by means such as contacting lugs 8 soldered or pressed on their ends. Similarly lugs 9 hold the vertical conductors in place.

It will be seen that the above described arrangement of horizontal and vertical conductors forms a plurality of screens of spaced conductive elements having spaced crossing points. Thus, movement of one of the resilient horizontal conductors can be effected towards one of the vertical conductors so that out of the multiple mesh so formed, a selection between a horizontal conductor with any vertical conductor adjacent thereto can be made. To effect such contact between the two types of conductors use is made of a slidable finger Hi, there being one finger corresponding to each set of transversely aligned crossing points between the horizontal and ver tical conductors. The fingers I 0 engage the horizontal conductors, and if the fingers are made of insulating material the conductor may pass directly through them and accordingly be carried by them.

In order to assure maximum contact between horizontal and vertical conductors, the latter may be formed in pairs as is more clearly shown in Fig. 2. Reference here is particularly made to finger H3 carrying a horizontal row of conductors 6 into engagement with a vertical double row of conductors 1'. Movement of the finger Ill in a manner to be described in more detail hereafter, thus carries each of the conductors 6 into contact with a plurality of vertical conductors l and each contact has two points of engagement.

The above described arrangement of horizontal and vertical conductors and the manner of effecting contact therebetween is very similar to that described in my above-mentioned co-pending application. The present invention now to be more fully described relates particularly to the manner of selectively controlling the fingers to effect operation of the multi-switch for such purposes, for example, as may be desired to use it as a selector, line finder or other switching devices in automatic telephone circuits.

The fingers ID are preferably slidably supported at their rear by openings in the back plate 5, and at their forward end by two plates H and i2. In the space between the plates H and l2 may be positioned a spring l3 normally urging the fingers ill, by pressure against a stop member 14, into a normal position in which the horizontal conductors are held out of contact with the vertical conductors. Member is may also serve as a stop, limiting the forward movement of the fingers.

Movement of the fingers Ill from their norma position to one in which they are adapted to cause engagement between the two types of conductors is partially effected by a series of vertically aligned horizontally slidable control bars is, there being one of such control members for each horizontal row of fingers. The relationship between the control bars 15 and the adjacent ends of the fingers I is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, which also shows that such adjacent ends of the fingers are provided with a projection is and an undercut portion ll whose functions will be later described.

The ends of control bars l5 are preferably mounted between opposed guides l8 and l9, and their movement from a normal position out of engagement with the fingers Hi, to a position of engagement is controlled by a series of relay magnets 28 to whose armatures they are connected in any suitable manner. Springs 2| normally hold control bars [5 in their outer position while energization of magnets 26 pull them in. Control bar l5 in Fig. 2 is shown in its inward or operating position.

Electromagnets 20 have been shown as mounted on a series of shelves 22 supported on one side by either the end wall 3 or the other end wall A, and on the inside by vertical panels 23 which may also serve as end mountings for the plates H and I2.

Inward movement of a control bar IE will not in itself effect movement of any of the fingers in that row. This is due to the cut-out section 11 at the end of each finger adjacent its corresponding control member. Such movement will only result when an intermediate member is interposed between the control member and the end of the finger, and this intermediate member can be selected for choosing a particular finger of a horizontal row to be operated in a manner which will now be described.

As is apparent from Figs. 1 and 2 the sets of fin ers as seen vertically, are arranged in pairs. Between and in front of each pair is mounted a rotatable carriage or shaft 24- which may be supported between the base plate and top 2. Vertically spaced along each shaft and opposite each horizontal row of fingers there is mounted a U-shaped spring structure (as viewed from t e side) whose base is positioned on the finger-side of the control bar l5, although in normal position between the two fingers of the pair above described. If a control bar I5 is in its outer or normal position, rotation of a shaft 24 in one direction or the other will move the base of spring 25 so that it engages the projection it of one of the fingers of the corresponding pair, depending upon which direction the shaft is turned. If, then, one of the control bars such as the control bar in Fig. 2 is moved inwardly, the additional thickness provided by the base of the spring member 25 which is now positioned in front of a finger, for example finger ill, will be sufficient to cause the control bar l5 to move this finger such a distance as to bring about contact between a horizontal set of conductors 6 with a vertical set of conductors 1. Other fingers opposite this same control bar It will not be moved because there is no intermediate member in between, and this control bar will merely slide into the under-cut portion l'l.

Rotation of the various shafts 24 and accordingly their selection both as to which shaft is to be controlled and the direction of movement can be effected by double electromagnets 2B, alternately mounted on the under-side of the base plate l and the upper-side of top 2. Such alternate mounting permits closer spacing of the shafts 24 and, therefore, a more compact switch structure.

From the above description of the structural features of this switch, it is believed that this manner of operation, particularly in establishing a connection in an automatic telephone system will be apparent to those skilled in this art. In the first place, while there has been illustrated a switch having a minimum of five planes of horizontal conductors with six conductors in each plane and twelve planes of vertical conductors with six conductors in each plane, the construction clearly lends itself to an arrangement in which the number of planes of conductors, either horizontal and vertical and the number of conductors in each plane may be increased or decreased to any number within practical structural limitations. To bring about contact between any horizontal set of conductors with any vertical set of conductors, one of the two coils of a selected magnet 26 is energized. This will rotate a shaft, for example, the shaft 24 in a direction such that all of the vertically spaced intermediate members 25' attached to that shaft take a position in front of a vertical row of fingers. In Fig. 1 this has been shown as the fifth vertical row, the shaft 24 having been turned in a counterclockwise direction by suitable energization of the righthand winding of magnet 25. After this initial selection is made and in response to suitable signals, one of the control bars I5 is moved inwardly. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there has been chosen, for purpose of illustration, the second control member l5 whose magnets are considered energized.

v This moves the control bar [5' inwardly but results in movement only of the finger Ill, for it is only in front of that finger that the intermediate member has been interposed. Thus of all of the contacts available in the switch shown, only one set of contacts have been made. Other contacts may be later made by energization of another magnet 26 and another of the pairs of magnets 20, but so long as magnets 29' remain energized the corresponding row of horizontal conductors remains blocked since movement now mits this.

of any of the other magnets 26 and the resulting movement of other intermediate members 25 cannot effect an interposition of such intermediate members between control member l5 and any of the other finger ends.

In further explanation of the operation of this switch if, for example, it is used as a selector in which the actuation of the operating magnets 20 and 36 is under the control of a register, it will be seen that after a selection of a single finger operating a plurality of contacts has been made, as above described, by sequential energization of one of the windings of electromagnet 26' and one of the pair of magnets 29, the electromagnet 26' may be de-energized, Upon such de-energisation the selected finger, in this case the finger will remain in its contact-closing position under the action of the control bar l. The shaft 24 may return to its original midposition for the reason that the resilient construction of the intermediate member 25 per- Accordingly, in response to suitable control signals from the register, the other winding of the electromagnet 26' can be energized to rotate the shaft in the opposite direction carrying all of the spring members attached to that shaft, with the exception of 25' in the other direction, to a position in front of the other vertical row of fingers, paired with the row in which the finger I0 is located. Thus operation of any of the other pairs of magnets 20 for moving another control bar I5 permits the making of another contact through the use of the intermediate members on the same shaft 24', but of course in this case between another set of horizontal and vertical conductors. On the other hand, if the shaft 24' has been returned to a neutral position, movement of any of the other control bars l5, for example, in connection with signals which have operated one of the other shafts 24, will not result in the actuation of any of the other fingers in the same vertical row as the finger ID.

The advantages of the switch structure described above will be clear to those skilled in this art. It results in an extremely compact arrangement providing more contacts for the same amount of space than other switches of this type. At the same time it is a relatively simple construction and produces clean and eifective contact between conductors. It will, of course, be understood that the mechanical arrangement of the switch herein described and illustrated is for purpose of description only, and can be varied without altering the principles of this invention. The particular manner of making contact between the horizontal and vertical conductors can also be varied within the scope of this invention. For example, although there has been herein described and illustrated the type of arrangement previously shown in my co-pending application referred to above, other contact making arrangements such as that shown in co-pending application S. N. 59,081/48, filed November 9, 1948, could also be used. In that case the horizontal conductors, instead of consisting of continuous spring wound conductors are broken up into a series of electrically connected spring members at each crossing point with a vertical conductor. These individual spring contacts are controlled by the fingers, but in the particular case described the fingers release the spring contacts which under their own tension make contact with the vertical conductors.

Accordingly, while there has been described the principles of the invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation upon the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1.A multi-contact switch comprising a first plurality of parallel conductive elements arranged in parallel horizontal planes, a second plurality of parallel conductive elements arranged in parallel vertical planes intersecting said horizontal planes and interspersed between the conductors in each horizontal plane and spaced therefrom to provide a spaced lattice of crossing points between the two pluralities of conductive elements, the conductive elements in the horizontal planes being sufficiently movable at the crossing points to bridge the space between them and the conductive elements in the adjacent vertical planes, means supporting the two pluralities of conductive elements, a plurality of individual movable fingers, one for each group of horizontally aligned crossing points and each cooperating with all conductive elements in one horizontal plane, means supporting each finger for sliding movement transverse to said vertical plane for such a distance as to effect contact between the horizontal conductive elements cooperating with said finger and the adjacent spaced vertical conductive elements, a plurality of vertically extending, rotatable carriages, means mounting said carriages before and between pairs of vertical rows of fingers, a vertical row of extensions mounted on each carriage, one extension for each pair of horizontal rows of fingers, a plurality of means, one common to each horizontal row of fingers, normally spaced from and adapted to actuate said fingers but only through said extensions, means rotating said carriages to move a vertical row of said extensions between all of said finger actuating means and a selected vertical row of fingers, and further means moving one of said finger actuating means toward a horizontal row of fingers, the end of each finger being formed with a cut-out portion to receive a moved finger-actuating means without moving the finger unless an extension on the carriage is interposed, whereby said finger-actuating means will move that finger in the said horizontal row corresponding to the vertical row selected by said carriage, through the extension carried thereby and effect contact between the horizontal conductive elements cooperating with that finger and the adjacent, spaced, vertical conductive elements.

2. Multi-switch according to claim 1 in which the end of each finger is further provided with a projection serving as a stop for an extension rotated by a carriage to position that extension in front of a finger.

JAKOB KRUI'I'HOF'.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 501,777 Fisher July 18, 1893 1,567,532 Marburg Dec. 29, 1925 1,580,782 Gross Apr. 13, 1926 2,045,971 Stockfleth June 30, 1936 2,517,022 Peek Aug. 1, 1950 2,517,679 Knos Aug. 8, 1950 2,519,849 Ostline Aug. 22, 1950 2,535,769 Wicks Dec. 26, 1950 2,577,067 Arthur Dec. 4, 1951 

